Israeli military’s first transgender officer criticizes Trump

The first transgender officer in the Israel Defense Force has criticized President Trump’s decision to ban trans people from the U.S. military.

Capt. Shachar Erez in a commentary that A Wider Bridge, which describes itself as an “LGBTQ advocacy group building connections between the Israeli and North American LGBTQ communities,” posted on its website on July 27 wrote “barring transgender individuals from serving their country is not a policy based on credible professional opinion.”

“It is simply pure transphobic discrimination,” said Erez.

Erez described himself as a “proud officer” who has served in the Israeli military for 5 1/2 years. He acknowledged he was not out when he enlisted, but “realized that in order for me to be the best commander to my soldiers that I could be, I had to be honest with them about my full, authentic self.”

“The military is a place where everybody is equal, and judged only by their ability to do their job,” wrote Erez. “Being trans has never affected my ability to serve or be fairly viewed by my peers.”